By Jocelyne F. Lafrenière

The great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., activist and leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement fiercely combated racial inequality and poverty through nonviolence.  His heart cried out a message of equality, right to life, liberty, and happiness for all. His dream created changes, lots of changes, with less discrimination in the United States on the basis of race, religion or national origin.

Over the years, several other inspiring men and women from around the world have proactively advocated civil rights, world peace, religious freedom, education for women, or gender equality, namely Nelson Mandela, Jane Adams, John Lennon, Émile Arnaud, the Dalai Lama, and Malala Yousafzai, to name a few. Yet progress is still needed. Too many struggles, equality gaps and violence are still part of our day-to-day existence.

Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I too have a dream rooted in the belief that love and peace will one day prevail.

I dream that one day we will see each other as ONE, and will embrace diversity of gender, race, culture, religion, and sexual orientation.

I dream that one day, we will understand that respect is not to agree but to allow others to be.

I dream that one day, there will be gender equality all around the world, with men and women working together as partners for the betterment of their family, community, country, and the world.

I dream that one day, there will be freedom for all, with no more oppression and killings based on religious convictions, sexual orientation, or race.

I dream that one day, there will be no more sexual slavery and human trafficking.

I dream that one day we will live in a world that says NO to violence and war, and that as ONE, we will communicate using positive means and nonviolence for the betterment of all.

I dream that one day, as ONE, we will open our hearts and say YES to kindness and help each other live our best lives. We will strongly welcome cooperation and collaboration for the greater good.

I dream that the world will be our home and that in unity, we will all be brothers and sisters.

I invite you to become an ambassador of the Just for Love and Peace Movement. Change first comes from within. It is through you and me that change blossoms. Together, we can make a difference and engage in the love and peace process to make this world a better place to live.
 

Lastly, I count on YOU. YOU are part of my dream.